Taking diazapam for the first time. Handhold?

[PinkLemonadee]

I have a small prescription for diazapam for severe anxiety around my mum's funeral. My GP has advised me to take half (1mg) at home first and I'm freaking terrified of taking it. I'm on my own too which isn't helping.

You honestly wont feel 1mg hit you at all. Don't be scared. It will just subtly calm you down. You wont feel it.
You may even want to take a few on the day.
I'd say starting at 5mg is where you might notice it take effect. But when I've had it I dont really feel anything until 10mg!
I hope the day is not too hard for you. Sending ❤️

People react very differently to those types of substance. I was prescribed co-codemol for a badly broken shoulder and I had to go back for a lower dose of it, then cut even that in half, because I couldn’t stay awake. It seems sensible to follow your doctors advice.

Op I appreciate it news to be taken with caution but i think it's amazing !!

I've also been given it for a close death and it helped me no end and at times I was so wound up with various trauma it helped me catch my breath and relax.
Lie in bed and take deep breaths and relax you muscles eg circle ankles ed tx

Sorry I've not read all the replies but if you've got time, take the first 1mg a couple of hours before bed so if it makes you feel rubbish or sleepy, or both you can then sleep it off. But then if that's OK go up to 2mg the next night so you know how sleepy it will make you on the day of the funeral. You want to be chilled but not asleep. The first 30 times or so I took it, I needed to sleep within 15 minutes but it probably was exacerbated by other medication I am on so you may be OK.

It definitely works. If it's only 1mg it won't impair you or make you woozy or 'stoned' or anything.

Just take it and enjoy the effects. You deserve to feel relief from your bereavement and sadness.

It's unfortunately not really a medicine you can take all the time but it will help I'm sure.

I hope you can get therapy or counselling? X

I've just taken it. I'm cosy in bed watching a movie ATM.

Enjoy the movie OP.
Wrap yourself up all cosy.
So sorry about your loss.
Sending you unmumsnetty hugs.
The diazepam is ok, it just takes the edge off.

OP I was given a benzo (5mg) for exactly the same thing and the same circumstances. It just quite the noise and you feel a calm setting in. I’m sure you’ll be fine.

Thank you!

Sending you hugs x @PinkLemonadee

My mum gave me some the night before my wedding and I still didn't sleep a wink! I've also had it for a pulled muscle and it had no effect on me at all! Sorry for your loss💐

I'm sorry for your loss @PinkLemonadee
Depending on how much in total you have, try it out slowly and take it as you feel the need to dull the edges and get through it in one emotional piece. Presumably there'll be people around?

1mg is nothing but if it works that would be good. Keep strong.

How did it go OP !

Bet you didn't feel a thing.

I've had a quarter of a tablet three times now and honestly it's been an absolute miracle. I still get a bit of anxiety but it's so much easier to cope with and not the god awful panic feeling that hits me like a brick.

I know 1/4 of a tablet is a tiny amount but I feel happy and safe to take that amount and it's been a massive help so far. I wish I could keep taking them because so far it's the only thing that's even touched the anxiety and panic!

I take 2mg just to get on a plane and 2mg before we land. I doubt 1mg will have a massive effect. I can function on what I take and I can even have a G&T on the flight, although not recommended! I'm me, just less intense. I don't feel weird or anything.

I hope the funeral goes well.

@QueenStevie I used to get it for flying and it was great! Apparently GPs won’t prescribe it for fear of flying anymore 😕 Would love to know how you come to get it but that’s possibly not the sort of conversation to have on a public forum. 😂

I get it for anxiety, so long as my GP is certain that I'm not abusing it - I only get a fortnight's supply at a time, sporadically.

As said above, originally got it for a major bereavement. Have also been prescribed it to help me get through a hysteroscopy, etc.

I think the problem is that it would be too easy (and tempting) to rely on it for a while. Some people don't realise that it's same as "Mother's Little Helper/Valium".

I'll just throw in here that it can cause constipation in some people.

However, I find it very helpful. TMI, but constipation is only a problem for me if I take the full 2mg two days in a row.

Ah, thanks @WearyAuldWumman, that makes sense.

It’s a shame they can’t prescribe it on a case by case basis for flying. I usually only fly once a year (well twice as it’s a return flight!) so would only ever need 2-4 tablets a year and they would be able to see from my record that those were the only times I was accessing it. But it seems they have a blanket rule on using it for flying.

To be fair, I haven't flown for a couple of years so I'm not sure when the rules changed but the last time I asked the GP for it, I got it with no issues. I hope they prescribed it next time!

I got it last year for flying to a family wedding, but it was specifically for anxiety around travelling without my late husband.

Yayy OP, I'm glad it helped. My panic used to be terrible and 2mg did me the world of good!

Its great stuff for a short period.
It is horribly additive and terrible to come off all so only use it sparingly.
Hope you feel a bit better :)

I've literally taken one full tablet so far, over four days. I'm taking a tiny does (1/4 of a tablet per day) so I'm not really feeling any sort of high from it. It's just taking away the horrible anxiety which has been absolutely wonderful. I've done more in the last three days than I've done the rest of the month.

I'd be surprised if it's possible to get addicted to 0.25mg taken less than once a day - it's probably not even a therapeutic dose. Glad it's helping though!